"BLM EXTENDS COMMENTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF DRAFT MANAGEMENT DOCUMENTS"
(BLM California news release, 09/18/2002)
BLM extends -- to 10/3/02 -- public scoping for development of draft environmental
impact statement and proposed amendment to the 1980 California Desert
Conservation Area Plan, that will establish route designation in the Surprise
Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Inyo County.http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/CDDnews83_Surprise_Canyon_Extended_Scoping_Comment/Conv.htm

"ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS GAZING AT DESERT GRAZING" (San
Bernardino County Sun, 09/17/2002)
"Three environmental groups are keeping watch on livestock grazing
on [BLM-managed] land in the High Desert, fearing inadequate monitoring
of pastures closed to cattle under court order could jeopardize the desert
tortoise."http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208%257E12588%257E865491,00.html

"RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROBLEMS PROMPT LEGISLATION" (Contra
Costa Times, 09/16/2002)
California governor Gray Davis signs bill meant to help state find burial
site for low-level waste. "The new law takes a proposed site at Ward
Valley out of consideration until the state develops the facility's guidelines."http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/4084316.htm

Related: "GOVERNOR SIGNS
BILL TO PROHIBIT DUMP SITE" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 09/13/2002)
"The official end finally came Thursday for the proposed Ward Valley
nuclear waste dump. Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill that prohibits Ward
Valley in eastern San Bernardino County from being the state site for
disposal of low-level nuclear waste." The proposed site is on BLM-managed
land.http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/1031885493.shtml

UNDERGROUND
RESOURCE ISSUES

"CITY HIRES LOBBYIST OVER MINE" (Los Angeles Daily News,
Santa Clarita edition, 09/14/2002)
Sand and gravel mine: "In response to setbacks in federal court,
Santa Clarita hired Cy Jamison, a former director of the Bureau of Land
Management, hoping he can use his connections to decrease the amount of
aggregate the federal government will allow Cemex to mine from Soledad
Canyon."http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20949%257E859944,00.html

"DELAYED VOTE ON PROJECT MAY PUT CADIZ IN FINANCIAL BIND"
(Los Angeles Times, 09/18/2002)
Cadiz, Inc. plan for water storage and supply under Mojave Desert: scheduled
reviews and upcoming holidays could delay final vote by Los Angeles Metropolitan
Water District, proposed customer for the water. BLM has approved right-of-way,
with conditions, for water pipeline.http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cadiz18sep18.story

WEED OF THE WEEK - Mediterranean sageNative
to Europe. Occurs in pastures meadows, rangelands, and other open areas.
One plant may produce thousands of seeds which are spread easily because
the mature plant forms a "tumbleweed." http://www.ca.blm.gov/alturas/medsage.htmlInvasive weeds are generally non-native plants from Europe
and Asia. They spread at an alarming rate because, unlike native species,
there are no native insects, fungi, or diseases to control their growth.
What began as a handful of plants introduced in the 19th century, now
number in the hundreds of millions. Noxious weeds threaten endangered
species, native plants and grazing, increase erosion and groundwater loss
and prevent recreational activities.

WILDLIFE
TRIVIA QUESTION: On average, how many quills does a common porcupine have?(See answer near the end of this issue of News.bytes)

WAS
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION A "WILDLIFE" TRIVIA QUESTION?! To quote one reader: "Wildlife
are defined as those amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals not normally
domesticated by man. Since the donkey's introduction to lands administered
by BLM was from domesticated stock they are not wildlife."

Our trivia question writer
(not nearly a full-time job, we can assure you) writes: "We included
them in the wildlife web page because the wild horse and burro program
is so important to BLM ... I also wanted to stay consistent with other
government agencies. Department of Fish and Game lists the feral burro
and wild horse in their "California's Wildlife - Mammals" book."
(Speaking of wild burros, don't miss the wild burro adoption special event,
under "Headlines and Highlights" below.)

Also: "One other point.
Where do we measure water by pounds for consumption? After almost 30 years
in wildlife I do not remember ever doing a consumption study based on
pounds of water." (We would like to point out that these are otherwise-pleased
readers of News.bytes. They are, in fact, helping to keep it correct and
reliable. We appreciate it.)

Related: "CASE STUDIES:
PORTAL OPERATION ON $150 A DAY" (New Architect, 09/13/2002)
Recreation.gov helps public find recreation opportunities on public lands,
including areas managed by BLM, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service
Service and other federal agencies.http://www.newarchitectmag.com/documents/s=2286/na1002k/index.html

Related: "RECREATION.GOV"
Search for recreational opportunities on public lands across the U.S.http://recreation.gov/

"DEMOCRATS DELAY FOREST-PROTECTION MEASURE" (Washington
Times, 09/13/2002)
"Senate Democrats are blocking President Bush's forest-protection
plan based in part on an environmental exemption that Majority Leader
Tom Daschle has allowed for his home state of South Dakota to prevent
wildfires. Sen. Larry E. Craig, Idaho Republican, wants to attach an amendment
to the Interior spending bill to stop environmentalists from using continued
lawsuit appeals as a tool to block timber sales."http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020913-676871.htm

"WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WILDFIRE CAN HURT US" (High
Country News, 09/17/2002)
"Beyond a handful of the most damaging fires, officials do not track
whether forest stands were devastated or improved by fire, whether watersheds
were hurt or helped, wildlife habitat destroyed or enhanced. We need to
know. Fire plays a crucial role in most Western ecosystems."http://www.hcn.org/wotr/dir/WOTR_020830_Little.html

"PROBE: Question: Do
you know of anybody who rescues turtles?" (Imperial Valley Press,
09/17/2002)
Well, in this case ... Newspapers' help line calls local BLM office about
turtle stranded in culvert -- which turns out to be a snapping turtle,
not native to the area. BLM personnel retrieved the snapper anyway. (Note:
our El Centro Field Office ecobiologist reports the turtle was apparently
trying to get out of the ditch for an important reason: "As soon
as she got into some water at our office, she laid eggs." The turtle
was returned to the wild in a more natural area at the All-American Canal,
and the eggs are in incubation.)http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/September/17-1574-news05.txt"WILD
BURROS OFFERED FOR ADOPTION IN ORLAND" (BLM California news release,
09/13/2002)
A group of wild burros will be looking for new homes, when the U. S. Bureau
of Land Management offers them for public adoption Saturday, Oct. 5, during
the third annual "Longears Cele'bray'tion," a show and competition
event for donkey and mule owners, set for the Glenn County Sheriff's Posse
Memorial Arena in Orland.http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/NCnews84_burroadopt_sept02/Conv.htm

"PUBLIC TALKS ABOUT CALIFORNIA COASTAL NATIONAL MONUMENT"
(BLM California news release, 09/13/2002)
Eight meetings over three weeks provide first public insight into the
new California Coastal National Monument. Created by presidential proclamation
in January 2000, the monument includes all undesignated rocks, islands,
exposed reefs and pinnacles above mean high tide extending 12 nautical
miles off the California coastline.http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/CCnews62_CACoastalMeetsFolo/Conv.htm

"COMMISSIONER CASTS FOR MOVIE MONEY" (Victorville Desert
Dispatch, 09/13/2002)
Film commissioner helps bring money to San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Profile of a day in her work includes meeting with BLM in Barstow, to
work on more standardized rules for filming in "variety of unique
area locations that have stunning vistas."http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1031932945,23310,

"MUSEUM COLLECTIONS HIT THE ROOF" (High Country News,
09/16/2002)
Lack of museum storage space for historical artifacts, could threaten
construction projects such as pipelines, road expansions across public
lands. Story focuses on Colorado sites, but issue has national impact.http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=13374

WILDLIFE
TRIVIA ANSWER: On average, how many quills does a common porcupine have?
Common porcupines have, on average, 30,000 quills! They are thick pieces
of hair that have the ability to stiffen when the animal is threatened.
They are so strong that they can actually puncture a shoe! When a quill
is injected into an enemy's body, the heat causes the quill to swell up
and makes it nearly impossible to remove. {:-o)-

SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS(Note: the Upcoming Events Web site is now on a more secure
server, and your browser may state that "You are about to view pages over
a secure connection" and ask you to "Trust a Security Certificate"
from the Department of Interior that hosts this site. To view the pages, you must
select "Yes" or "OK" for both questions.)

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